The Time Hopper

Clinging To Life

My eyes flipped open, much to my surprise. I hadn't drifted slowly from unconsciousness, or even dreamed after I fell asleep. No, it felt like only a second had passed since I passed out, and I was genuinely shocked that I had woken up. I had thought that was it for me. But somehow, someone had reached me on the verge of death and yanked me back to life, and here I was now. In a small, one room cottage, with three children staring directly at me.

"She's awake!" One of them yelled in an ear splitting voice, the oldest child. If I had to guess, I would place her at about twelve. She had curly red hair, freckled skin and crooked teeth, and was wearing a soft blue homespun dress that was threadbare at the knees and elbows. This was his sister- Riley only had one, and yet on her knee she had a five year old who looked near identical to her, wearing a dress that looked to be have been cut from the same cloth.

"Hello." I tried to say, but it came out as a rasp. Suddenly, all the sensations of my body were brought to my attention. I was laid on a thin mat on top of straw, prickly and uncomfortable from the stone floor below. I was covered in a thin blanket that wasn't enough to keep the cold off, and my chest was aching so badly that I could barely breath. My stomach felt like it was digesting itself, and I was so thirsty that my throat stung.

"Is it true that you're a witch?" The brother asked. I think his name was Sam- I couldn't quite remember. He had been a toddler when I first grabbed Riley, so now he must be eight or nine. He'd inherited the dark hair and eyes of Riley, and his face and hands were grubby like he'd been outside working. Usually my immediate reaction to that question was to answer yes, but I realised that was probably a bad move when visiting my best friend's family for the first time. I shook my head, and tried to speak again, though I was entirely unsuccessful.

"Go and get her some water, she's clearly thirsty. Go on, do something useful." His older sister commanding, shooing him away. He got up and shot her a reproachful look as he padded, barefoot, to the front door. The cottage was small, maybe the size that my bedroom had been back in Consequences' valley. On one wall there was a stove, and a small bench to prepare food on. A cupboard next to it functioned as a pantry, and the large table took up a good half of the space. The walls were lined with tools and pans and pails and a dozen other things that were unfamiliar with me, and there were two big beds next to me that must house the whole family. I was laid on a mat on the floor, and there was another one next to me that had a familiar smell to it. I wondered where Riley was. I wondered if he was mad at me. And then the boy was back with a clay cup of water, and I took it with a shaky hand. My skin was very pale, paler than usual, and I could see the bones poking out of it as though I had lost a lot of weight. Even holding the cup made my hand and wrist shake with the strain, and it really wasn't that heavy. Slowly, wincing, I sat up and took a few mouthfuls, feeling what little strength I had rushing out of me.

"How long have I been here?" I asked, putting the cup down and immediately having to lie back down again. I would have thought that she would help me sit up, but no. Though if they thought that I was a witch, they'd be loathe to touch me. This was a really superstitious time period, after all. And they were Catholics- I remembered Riley telling me. I think he still was- not the time, Sadie. The girl looked at me and shrugged.

"A little over a week." She said, and it looked like she was going to continue, and then a woman bustled into the cottage and the younger girl was cut off. She was fairly short and stout, wide at the hips and with a belly that I couldn't tell was pregnant or not. Given how skinny everyone else was, I would bet on pregnant, but I wasn't going to put words to that. I'd made that mistake before. She had long dark hair tied in a bun, and her eyes were a much harsher shade of brown than her son's. She saw me and her smiling lips hardened into a line.

"Catherine, get away from the girl." She said sharply, snapping her fingers. Immediately, Catherine sprang to her feet, hoisting the babe into her arms and scurrying from the cottage. I swallowed uneasily, wishing that Riley was here. I was used to just teasing people, messing with them, but this seemed like the wrong situation to do this with.